More Information on Instrumental Teaching Following Row Over Director’s Comments

On request, the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT) have supplied figures regarding instrumental teaching in schools. It follows the furore two weeks ago over comments by a Head of Education in Ayrshire saying she would rather have pupils ‘on the tools’ than learning music. The 2024 figures show almost 66,000 Scottish schoolchildren receiving music instruction, demonstrating the ongoing appeal of these lessons, and likely reflecting the impact of…

More Information on Donald Cameron’s Powder Horn

We are grateful to piping historian Jeannie Campbell MBE for forwarding this information following last week’s article on Donald Cameron’s powder horn…. A piping competition was held on 4th October 1839 in a Pavilion at the Great Agricultural Meeting, Academy Park, Inverness, in aid of funds of the Northern Infirmary. The prizes were: 1 ‘A Handsome Bagpipe’ made by Macdonald [Donald] of Edinburgh, to Angus MacKay, piper to WF Campbell…

New Jack Lee Contest Announced in Canada

The British Columbia Pipers’ Association (BCPA) is thrilled to announce the launch of the Jack Lee Amateur Invitational Piping Competition, writes David Hilder, President. This exciting new annual event will celebrate the art of piobaireachd and showcase the top piping talent in the amateur grades of the Association. The inaugural competition will take place on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the Seaforth Armoury in Vancouver. This new invitational honours the remarkable…

2025 Nicol-Brown Chalice Results

This important invitational amateur competition, now in its 42nd year, was held in St Mark’s Presbyterian Church, Rockville, Maryland, USA, on October 11. Competitors are pictured above. Overall Championship: 1 Alex Pavlovic, $1,000 (to be spent on travel to compete at an event approved by the Nicol-Brown Committee) 2 Colin Richdale, $500 3 Jean-Sébastien Gamache, $400 4 Liam Horne, $300 5 Abby Long, $200. Invitations are based on results in…

National Mòd Piping Results

A busy day of competition at the National Mòd held at Lochaber High School, Fort William, on Saturday, 10th October. There were very good numbers for B grades and the children’s competitions. P/A Piobaireachd 1 Cameron May, Lament for the Children2 Darach Urquhart, Lament for the Earl of Antrim 3 Angus MacPhee, Lament for MacLeod of Colbeck P/A MSR1 John Dew2 Sandy Cameron3 Calum Watson B Piobaireachd 1 Jonathon Simpson, Lament for…